We are students in Northwestern's Medill IMC [Integrated Marketing Communications] program in a Direct and Integrated Marketing course that teaches social marketing. As a part of our assignments, we need to better establish our professional personas and begin writing blogs on key topics which concern our future professional industries. You can also follow us on twitter using the hash tag #NUSocialIMC. Enjoy!

Tuesday, May 3, 2016

Photographers: 3 Action Items to Build a Successful Business

In this day and age anyone can grab a point and shoot camera and
title themselves a professional
photographer. Making it vital to establish a strong entrepreneurial foundation
in order to stay competitive in this saturated market. Creative inspiration can
only drive your business so far, making it increasingly important to invest in
successful business tactics.

As a professional sports photographer and
undergraduate student at Northwestern University, I found two articles to help
you propel your own photography business.

There are many unforeseen challenges when it comes to owning your own photography
business. Zach Prez from photographyspark.com talks about
building a backbone when creating your own brand. Creating the backbone of your
brand requires setting goals, making a business plan, building a portfolio and
engaging with your clientele base. As Prez says, “…there are several important
factors to consider before starting a photography business. Addressing these
topics early on will set you on a path to success.”

The second article Life Through a Lens,David
Locke gives us 5 tips on building a successful photography company. His article
discusses how taking photos is only a small portion of a professional
photographer’s business. There are many things that need to be considered in
order for your company to thrive. In this fiercely competitive market he came
up with a list of 5 tips to help your business rise to the top.

Based on the ideas in these articles and my experience as a
professional photographer, here are three action items you should consider when
building your own photography business.

1.Be
BOLD – Don’t be afraid of difficult situations, confront them head-on and
make bold decisions.

2. Be COMPETITIVE – Strive
to be the best and make your presence known.

3. Stay
INSPIRED – Don’t let anything get in the way of your creativity and
passion.

These
three simple action items will give your company a great competitive advantage
over other brands and help you capture the long-term loyalty of your clientele.

Caylor Arnold
is currently an undergraduate at Northwestern University and accomplished professional
sports photographer. She currently works with USA Today Sports Images covering
major events around the Chicagoland area. Check out more of her work at www.caylorarnold.comor follow her on Instagram@caylorarnoldphoto.